Superintendent releases plan to "turnaround" schools

Dubbed the turnaround plan, Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper hopes to pass major changes to the school system to improve its standing.

"We're going to get these children ready to learn," Dr. Cooper said.

His ideas are major changes but that's part of what the Lafayette School Board liked about Pat Cooper when they chose him as Superintendent. Now, he's putting his ideas on paper and setting standards for the school system.

"We need to give them the leeway to reach those standards," Cooper said.

The plan was released for board members Tuesday evening, highlighting changes to early childhood education, administration structures and the lack of childrens' health care.

"It has everything to do with fiber optics to blue collar work to making sure that all of our children have what it takes to be successful," Cooper said.

The plan aims to improve things like graduation rates and leap scores but the main goal is to change the district's rating from a "C" school district to an "A" school district (and do it in less than 6-years).

"Our job is to make us good enough and resilient enough." Cooper says, "so that what ever the state or federal government does we can not only meet those standards but exceed those standards."

With education reform in Baton Rouge looming over Louisiana's schools, Cooper says his plan for Lafayette leaves a good chance for success. That is, if the board approves it on Wednesday.